Flexible structures for use with dock seals and shelters

Abstract

Flexible structures for use with dock seals and shelters are disclosed. An example flexible structure includes a rigid backer to couple a flexible panel assembly to a loading dock wall and a flexible, self-supporting sheet-shaped member having sufficient rigidity to enable the flexible sheet-shaped member to be cantilevered from a surface of a building without substantial sagging. The sheet-shaped member has an inner surface and an outer surface defining a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge where the first and second longitudinal edges couple to the rigid backer. The inner surface defines an empty cavity when the sheet-shaped member is coupled to the rigid backer.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A flexible panel assembly for use at a loading dock, comprising:
 a rigid backer to couple the flexible panel assembly to a loading dock wall; and 
 a flexible self-supporting structural sheet-shaped member being substantially unitary and having a first side, a front side, and a second side opposite the first side, the front side coupling the first side and the second side, the first side and the front side defining a first corner and the second side and the front side defining a second corner, the flexible self-supporting structural sheet-shaped member having sufficient rigidity to enable the front side to be cantilevered from the rigid backer by at least a distance defined by the first side without substantial sagging and without the first corner and the second corner being attached to a support structure, the first side, the second side and the front side defining an empty cavity when the flexible self-supporting structural sheet-shaped member is coupled to the rigid backer. 
 
     
     
       2. A flexible panel assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible self-supporting structural sheet-shaped member comprises a metallic material. 
     
     
       3. A flexible panel assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible self-supporting structural sheet-shaped member comprises a polymeric material. 
     
     
       4. A flexible panel assembly as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the polymeric material is a high molecular weight polyethylene. 
     
     
       5. A flexible panel assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional shape or profile of the flexible self-supporting structural sheet-shaped member is substantially U-shaped when the flexible self-supporting structural sheet-shaped member is coupled to the rigid backer. 
     
     
       6. A flexible panel assembly as defined in  1 , further comprising at least one compressible member positioned in the cavity of the flexible self-supporting structural sheet-shaped member to provide at least one of a shape restorative force or a structural rigidity to the flexible self-supporting structural sheet-shaped member. 
     
     
       7. A flexible panel assembly as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the at least one compressible member is made of a foam material. 
     
     
       8. A flexible panel assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a seal cantilevered from the flexible self-supporting structural sheet-shaped member, the seal being substantially perpendicular relative to the flexible self-supporting structural sheet-shaped member when the seal is coupled to the flexible self-supporting structural sheet-shaped member. 
     
     
       9. A flexible panel assembly as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the seal is to flex relative to the flexible self-supporting structural sheet-shaped member when an external force is applied to the seal. 
     
     
       10. A flexible panel assembly as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the seal comprises a vehicle hinge gap cover having a curved member or hoop to engage a rear edge of a vehicle. 
     
     
       11. A flexible panel assembly for use at a loading dock, the flexible panel assembly to be vertically mounted adjacent an opening of a building, the flexible panel assembly comprising:
 a structural self-supporting unitary sheet to be coupled to a wall of the loading dock, the unitary sheet composed of a high molecular weight polyethylene material having sufficient rigidity to provide a self-supporting U-shaped profile defining at least one cavity when the unitary sheet is coupled to the wall and to enable the unitary sheet to be cantilevered from the wall without substantial sagging to the U-shaped profile of the unitary sheet and without additional structural support at an end of the unitary sheet that is to protrude away from the wall; 
 a non-self-supporting flexible cover positioned on an outer surface of the unitary sheet, the unitary sheet to support the flexible cover when the flexible cover is positioned on the unitary sheet; 
 a compressible core positioned in the cavity, the unitary sheet wrapping around the compressible core, the compressible core to provide at least one of a shape restorative force or a structural rigidity to at least one of the unitary sheet or the flexible cover; 
 a seal coupled to the unitary sheet, the seal to project away from the unitary sheet in a direction toward a dock opening of the dock wall; and 
 a rigid material positioned between the seal and the unitary sheet to enable the seal to couple to the unitary sheet. 
 
     
     
       12. A flexible panel assembly as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the compressible member is made of a foam material. 
     
     
       13. A flexible panel assembly as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the unitary sheet defines a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, the first and second longitudinal edges being substantially parallel with respect to the wall when the unitary sheet is coupled to the wall. 
     
     
       14. A flexible panel assembly as defined in  claim 13 , further comprising a rigid elongate member to couple the unitary sheet to the wall, the first and second longitudinal edges of the unitary sheet to attach to the rigid member via fasteners, wherein the unitary sheet includes a third longitudinal edge spaced apart from the first and second longitudinal edges, the third longitudinal edge being detached from a frame defined by the rigid elongate member, the third longitudinal edge being self-supported without additional structural support and is cantilevered from the wall without substantial sagging to the shape of the unitary sheet. 
     
     
       15. A flexible panel assembly for use at a loading dock, comprising:
 a rigid backer defining a first side surface, a second side surface and a rear surface, the rigid backer to couple to a wall of the loading dock such that the rear surface is oriented toward the wall; and 
 a unitary sheet composed of a flexible material, the unitary sheet defining a first longitudinal edge, a second longitudinal edge, and a corner spaced apart from the first and second longitudinal edges, the first longitudinal edge to attach to the first side surface of the backer via a first fastener and a second longitudinal edge to attach to the second side surface of the backer via a second fastener, respectively, the unitary sheet defining an empty cavity when the unitary sheet is coupled to the rigid backer, the unitary sheet having sufficient rigidity to enable the corner of the unitary sheet to be cantilevered from the rigid backer without substantial sagging to a shape of the unitary sheet and without additional structural support between the rigid backer and the corner. 
 
     
     
       16. A flexible panel assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a seal coupled to the corner of the unitary sheet via a rigid sheet and a third fastener, the seal to project away from the unitary sheet in a direction toward a dock opening of the dock wall. 
     
     
       17. A flexible panel assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the unitary sheet comprises a first side and a second side when the first and second longitudinal edges are coupled to the respective first and second side surfaces of the backer, and further comprising a cross-bar extending between the first and second sides of the unitary sheet. 
     
     
       18. A flexible panel assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the unitary sheet protrudes approximately two feet away from the wall without substantial sagging to the shape of the unitary sheet and without additional structure support. 
     
     
       19. A flexible panel assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the sheet-shaped member has an inner surface defining a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, the first and second longitudinal edges to couple to the rigid backer. 
     
     
       20. A flexible panel assembly as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the first longitudinal edge and the first corner define therebetween the first side, the second longitudinal edge and the second corner define therebetween the second side, and the first and second corners define therebetween the front side of the flexible self-supporting sheet-shaped member. 
     
     
       21. A flexible panel assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible panel assembly does not include any structural support between the rigid backer and the front side.